Parker sat at her desk staring at the walls when Jarod walked in.

"Are you ready to go?"

Parker didn't say a word.

Jarod walked up to her, waved his hand in her face. "Honey."

"Mmm."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Because you look like you are in another world."

"Oh....Yeah. I'm fine. Just a little stressed." She gathered up her things and followed Jarod out the door.

It was a quiet ride home, not a word was spoken. Jarod parked in the drive way, "Melissa."

"Uh."

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Of course, I'm sure." She reached for the door handle.

"Wait."

"What?"

"I think we should go out, just us. No kids. What do you say?"

"I don't know."

"Come on, we can invite Broots and Simone and whoever else you want. You need to get out."

"Let me think about it." The door opened and she got out. Jarod followed her in the house.

The kids met them at the door.

"Mom, you're home."

"Are you glad to see me?"

"Yes. We missed you." Kyle said as he wrapped his arms around her legs.

Parker sat down on the couch, Sydney crawled in her lap and gave her mother a hug. "Mom, I love you."

"I love you too. How was your day?" She turned to Catherine, who came in the room.

"Great!. I met a new friend today."

"That's good."

Jarod sat down next to them. "What about me?"

"What about you?" Kyle asked.

"Did you miss me too?"

"Yes, we did daddy." They all reached over and gave him a hug and kiss.

*******

Friday night; early

"Jarod?" Parker called out as she brushed her hair.

"What?" Jarod walked into the bedroom.

"Are we picking them up or meeting them there?"

"We are picking them up after we drop off the kids at my parents house."

"Oh."

******

Parker lead the group in the club. "Do you want to shot some pool?"

"Sure!" Jarod yelled at over the loud music.

[background]
On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas

"Broots, Simone, do you want to sit over there?" Parker pointed at an empty table by the pool table.

Broots shook his head yes.

They sat down while Jarod went to get the balls for pool.

[background]
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night

"Do you want to play men against women or as couples?" Parker asked as she grabbed a pool stick.

Broots and Simone exchanged uncomfortable looks and what Parker had just said.

Parker realized how that came out. "I meant..."

"Men against women is fine with me." Broots said.

"Yeah, that's fine." Simone agreed.

Jarod came back. "Who wants to break?"

They all looked at each other. "You can." Parker replied.

"Fine with me." Jarod answered.

Jarod stared at the other end of the table, before he broke them apart. Balls went everywhere. "It looks like I'm solids."

"You could have left some on the table!" Parker responded as she walked around the table, keeping one eye on Jarod while he continued to shot until he missed. "Do you want to go first?" She stopped over by Simone.

"No, go ahead."

[background]
I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish, I'll be your fantasy
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need
I love you more with every breath, truly, madly, deeply do

Parker went over to the table, the stared down at the balls at the other end. She got ready to shot when Jarod walked up behind her. "I wouldn't go for that one."

Taking a deep breath. "Who is doing this?"

"Okay, but I'm just trying to help."

He moved to where he faced Parker at the other end of the table.

[background]
I will be strong, I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on
A new beginning, a reason for living, a deeper meaning, yeah

She looked at him, smiled, and made the shot without removing her eyes from him. It went in the pocket. "You were saying." She stood up.

"Go ahead." Jarod wander around the table.

[background]
I wanna stand with you on a mountain
I wanna bathe with you in the sea
I wanna lay like this forever
Until the sky falls down on me

Parker made another shot but missed. "Your turn Broots." He got up from his seat and Parker took his.

[background]
And when the stars are shinning brightly in the velvet sky
I'll make a wish, send it to heaven, then make you want to cry
The tears of joy for all the pleasure in the certainly

Jarod walked over to her. "I love you."

She threw her hand up in his face> "I don't want to hear it."

[background]
That we're surrounded by the comfort and protection of
The highest powers, in lonely hours the tears devour you

"Oh...come on. I just wanted to help." Jarod whinned like a little boy that didn't get his way.

She glared at him.

"Do you want something to drink? I will go get it."

"That would be nice."

"What do you want?" he asked.

"Vodka on the rocks."

"Come on. How about something a little lighter?"

She continued to glare.

"Okay, one vodka on the rocks." He turned to Simone, "Do you want something?"

"I'll take a tequila sunrise."

"Broots?"

"No, maybe later."

"Okay."

[background]
Oh can't you see it baby
You don't have to close you eyes
'Cause it's standing right before you
All that you need will surely come

Jarod returned with the drinks.

[The next song begin to play....]
Maybe it's intuition
But some things you just don't question

Parker grabbed Jarod. "Let's dance."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Fine. Broots?"

"Me...uh...no..."

Parker grabbed him and headed out to the dance floor. He looked at Jarod 'Please help me!' written all over his face. Jarod reluctantly went to Broots' rescue.

[background]
Like in your eyes
I see my future in an instant
And there it goes
I think I found my best friend
I know that It might sound more that a little crazy
But I believe

Parker wrapped her arms around Jarod's neck as he wrapped his around her waist. They danced so close that you couldn't tell there were two people out there.

[background]
I knew I loved you before I met you
I think I dreamed you into life
I knew I loved you before I met you
I have been waiting all my life

"Jarod..."

"Mmm..."

"This song is us."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

[background]
There's just no rhyme or reason
Only this sense of completion
And in your eyes
I see the missing pieces
I'm searching for
I think I've found my best friend

"I love you." she whispered into his ear.

The words of the song floated through the air.

A thousand angels dance around you
I am complete now that I've found you

She looked into his eyes as her fingers ran through his hair. Her lips found his as another song began to play.

He pulled away hesitantly. "I think we should get back to them." He took her hand as they walked back to the table. He was afraid he had to stop what was about to happen.

After a few more drinks and songs, Parker dragged him back to the dance floor for one more dance.

[background]
I like a woman who likes to drive
Loves to do it fast, yeah, above 95

They moved to the music.

[background]
I love a woman who likes to make me sweat
Who'll come on round lookin' for love, get what she can get
Show me babe what's on your mind
I wanna feel ya one more time

Parker backed Jarod against the wall and kissed him.

[background]
All night, I like it, all night
I want to love, oh, yeah
I wanna make love, baby, oh, yeah
I wanna to make love, child

Her hands went up his shirt. He didn't try to fight it. He wanted her just as much.

[background]
C'mon baby it's show time give it to me, give it to me
I like a woman who wants to be the star
She'll make a man go further than he's ever been before

He spun her around to where she was against the wall. With one leg wrapped his body, she moaned as he continued to kiss her, from lips to neck.

Her right hand wandered down his chest to the top of his jeans. "Jarod..."

"Mmmm...."

"Maybe we should call it a night."

"Are you sure?"

Her lips curled into a wicked smile as she pulled away from him. "Come on." She took his hand and went over to where Broots and Simone were.

"We are going to call it a night." Jarod informed Broots.

"You should." Broots whispered back to him.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Broots escorted Simone out.

********

Jarod and Parker got into the house. "Race you upstairs." Parker teased with one eyebrow slightly raised.

Jarod grabbed her on his way up the stairs and threw her over his shoulder. She giggled as he sat her down on the bed and quickly joined her.

********

Several days later, Parker walked into their bedroom to find Jarod going through one of her dresser draws.

"What are you doing?"

"I lost something. It fell in the drawer as I was putting some clothes away."

"Oh." She moved over to where he was standing. "What does it look like? Maybe I can help."

He turned around quickly, "Okay, I lied. I didn't lose anything. I'm searching for something."

"What are you searching for?"

"Birth control pills."

"Well...you won't find them."

She headed toward the bathroom.

"Okay...where are they?" He followed her in.

"Why?"

"Dr. Powell's office called and said you were late for your next appointment."

"I know."

"So, you are...we are going to try to have a baby?"

"Back off...I didn't say that."

"Well, there must be some reason why you are late for your appointment."

"I haven't had time to make it."

"Then what are you using for birth control?"

"Why? What does it matter to you?"

"I know haven't been using anything and I didn't think you were either."

"Well...you thought wrong." She walked back into the bedroom.

"Melissa, come on. I have a right to know."

"A 'right to know'. Come on, Jarod. You didn't even tell me you had your vasectomy reversed."

"I did too."

"No, you told me you were going to have it done. You never told me when you had it done."

"I had it done a year ago."

"Well, that's when I went to the doctor for birth control."

"What kind of birth control?"

"Depo-Provera shots."

"Oh. Then what have you been using since your shot ran out?"

"You mean besides not letting you touch me."

"Yeah."

"This." She threw him a box.

"What is it?"

"You're the genius, you figure it out." She walked out the bedroom, leaving him standing there.

A few minutes later, Jarod joined her in the kitchen. He found her making a sandwich. She knew he was there but didn't say a word, or even look up.

"Honey....I...."

He walked up to her and sat his chin on her shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? Sorry that you found out, sorry for even asking, or sorry for everything in between."

"I'm just sorry."

She walked away from the counter and faced him. "I am too."

"What? Sorry."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I have to keep it a secret because you wanted more kids and I didn't." She turned to walk out when Jarod grabbed her. "What?"

"Can we forget the whole thing?"

"What whole thing, Jarod?"

"I don't want more kids. I mean I do but if it is going to push us apart...then I don't."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do. I love you more than anything else in the world. I just want to make you happy and if that is what makes you happy then..."

"Jarod...." She placed her fingers over his lips. "....I don't want to end this marriage. We have came a long way and have been through so much...."

"I love you." He whispered.

"I love you too."

"So, can we put this behind us?"

"We better before we lose it all."

"Thank you. Now, what kind of sandwich is that? It looks good." He was hoping to change the subject.

"Turkey." She smiled and exited the kitchen.

Jarod grinned as he watched her leave. She still sent chills up his spine. He loved her so much.

The End!